Show PUBLIC SCHOOL IN ALABAMA RIPLEY miss MIES march 25 1698 it is some five or of six months since there appe appeared areu in the NEWS a statement of the condition of the north alabama conference if your valuable paper to IB nut not overburdened with missionary writings writing perhaps a tow lew items irum irom here bere now dow would not be without interest to some of the friends of the gospel laborers who sire are in this part of the southa less lieada than one year ago there were only twelve elders in this field As the majority of these were inexperienced in missionary work the north alabama conference was justly considered among the weakest in the mission since that time it has increased rapidly both in numbers and in strength this has bae not dot taken place however without a struggle gele with but limited training in the nave have found themselves under the necessity of taking for their companions inexperienced labor laborers erstrom from homes home when the elders themselves felt much more capable of receiving than imparting instruction thus thua each elder found himself under a load which however lass has served only to develop tale his powers 0 so o that he be soon became able to cope successfully with the duties of missionary Dary life that energy so BO essential to success in soy any pur suit in life has grown as orar oar numbers have increased until today we have twenty eight zealous laborers notwithstanding our recruits have been raw workers from home and some of our strongest brethren have been called to labor to in other coffel enaes of the she mission ml eslon we believe that nothing short shore of well directed and persistent effort among the elders coupled with aid from a higher source would have brought about a change so ao marked and improved now the term raw worker 42 to is not used no matter how well informed in the doctrines of the gospel the new missionary way may be box still be ann cnn cannot not work to the best advantage in the missionary field without experience at least the general habits manners and customs of the people must be learned by him befort before he can become eminently successful in his labors labore he mutt must study the people almost as an closely as he bat studied the doctrines which watch he would have them believe at our annual conference meetings held last october a few now new features were introduced into the conference it was thought advisable for far one pair of euers to spend their time in visiting saints and friends in closed coon tier it was also deemed wise wine for the president of the conference to visit the elders in their respective counties and there bold a series of six or eight meetings in localities wherever whatever pool peo le ie might be found desirous of bearing our teachings this was required oi 01 him as well as to encourage and counsel the elders in regard to their dutiel perhaps no other two changes have been productive of more good on bearing that a big mormon preacher would be along an exciting interest has often been aroused in the minds of many people which has baa bad for its result some seme well attended meetings indeed persons not having baying been within church walls for fifteen years have come out to the mea meetings tinge it must not be sup posed however that friends have always been found with greedy ears cars ready to devour up our dine discourse durse opposition often has been met still we are thankful that ways for over coming this thin opposition have beed found as often on oa one occasion in alabama the principal of a school was invited to give notice to the students that we would hold meetings at a given place this be did and he be also gave the students to understand that it toulu not be in keeping with his wishes tor for them to give dive such base and ignorant fiello fellows weI a bearing after our meetings were over we visited his school telling hm him that we were interested in educational work aud and that we were desir us 0 learning the methods of teaching teach ing ear em in the south he asked if we ever had bad the pleasure of ef touching teaching school on his receiving an affirm active answer seemingly to test the truthfulness of our words he invited us to take charge of one of bis big advanced classee cla esef the invitation was wae accepted at the dismissal di missal of the olas class he be requested that we take charge ot of another and so on he continued until nearly halt aalf the day had been spent by lo 10 y the mormon acting as an teacher and the teacher a as critic by this time be evidently bad a change of heart beart 31 as an he desired us to speak to the students on educational topic talf we attempted to do by telling of the development of education to iu daab 01 0 her bar present school system with some of its result and of her comparative standing stan diug with some of the old and leading educational statts states in the union at the he close of the talk the teacher was profuse with his big praise when we bade him and the students stud euta good bye we had gained their respect and good wishes the whole surrounding neighborhood soon goon became friend ly which enabled us up to touch teach ti it em am tile the gospel of truth W while bile visiting in hi the state of sippi we have met comparatively little opposition one sabbath morning moral ng we attended a large funeral near by the abe schoolhouse where we intended to hold bold meeting antho in the after afro oon As the pastor tailed failed in reaching the cemetery in time lor for the burial we were asked to conduct the services here was presented to us a good ity hy to speak upon the resurrection after the services were over gray hatred haired fathers thought it strange that they bad not looked on the resurrection in a similar way as an all the doctrine advanced they said was scriptural A favorable impression bad been made ou a large proportion of the people who now became determined to bear us speak in the afternoon however prompted by a desire to stop our progress there was a number who persuaded persua aed the school trustees trust eee to close the doors doom of the school house against us determined not dot to be baffled altogether we gave notice that we would hold a meeting that night in a chapel in an adjo adjoin luing log neighborhood at once young men tot let out on horseback conveying eying this news to people in adjoining settlements when night dight came we lound found the chapel well filled with listeners listener some of whom had come twelve miles to hear bear UP during the meeting toe ane spirit of the ibe lord was richly el ei joyed by the speakers and at its close they ec encircled circled by dozens of friends desirous or of clasping their bunds bonds and of asking an interest in their prayers thus our way has bas been made clear before us ue and we have been permitted to sow seeds which we have reason to ta believe will germinate and with proper watchfulness and cultivation grow and ripen into beautiful sheaves such as the king of the harvest barvest will not fail to own we are now working on the conference records we are indeed thankful tu to return and share the hospitality and quietness of the abe home of judge B F bam sham for we were somewhat thed tided having held thirty three meetings during the post past four weeks visiting judge worsham and wife can justly be classed among the noble of the earth their high intellectual attainments coupled wita their upright course to la life have been an attraction to people of refined sensibilities hence bey chev have many worthy admirers the judge and his wife have acted as aa a father and mother to sons of utah who will never forget them on the of february tary we received notice that elder bird murphy would oon anon be released to return home that elder eider albert matteson Mat beson of ball bait lake would be op pointed to succeed him as an president of the conference on the same date elder J jap a W musser also of salt lake was invited to work in the office at chattanooga BIRD ALIBERT ALBERT MATHESON |